Klein accused of drug trafficking after arrest

Kevin Klein, 42, Cornell, is accused of a number of crimes, following an arrest Nov. 5, in the City of Eau Claire.

According to the criminal complaint, an investigator with the Eau Claire Police Department and the West Central Drug Task Force, was monitoring a house in Eau Claire in the late morning hours of Nov. 5, on suspicion of methamphetamine tracking activities.

A female, Morgan Moreno, was spotted leaving the residence in a vehicle. Other officers were notified and Moreno was taken into custody on an active arrest warrant. A substance later identified as methamphetamine, was found in the vehicle.

In an interview later, Moreno told officers she obtained the drugs from Klein.

Klein was later seen exiting the same residence in a vehicle Officers stopped Klein, who also had an active arrest warrant. Officers on the scene noticed Klein was carrying a knife. Klein was cooperative and exited the vehicle before he was taken into custody.

Officers searched the vehicle for more weapons and found gem baggies, consistent with what are used for illegal drugs. They also found what is suspected to be methamphetamine in the vehicle.

Investigators also noted that $349 had been found on Klein, as well as two cell phones that were seized from Klein.

Officers got a warrant for the house, where they found a backpack in a bedroom containing a taser, 351.37 grams of methamphetamine, a drivers license for Klein and 3.8 grams of cocaine.

Another resident in the house confirmed the bag belonged to Klein.

In an interview later, Klein admitted the backpack and methamphetamine belonged to him. He told investigators he was selling methamphetamine for approximately three months, and had recently started selling larger quantities to about 10 large-scale customers. Klein estimated he trafficked 9-10 pounds of methamphetamine into the Eau Claire area, from sources in St. Paul.

Online court records show a $2,500 signature bond was set for Klein.

Klein faces one charge of Delivery of Methamphetamine (<=3g), one count of Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamphetamine, one count of Maintain Drug Trafficking Place, one count of Possession of Cocaine (2nd+ offense), one count of Possession of Electric Weapon, one count of Bail Jumping-Felony, one count of Possess Drug Paraphernalia and one count of Carrying a Concealed Knife.

A preliminary hearing is set for Klein Tuesday, Dec. 10, at the Eau Claire County courthouse.